Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps continued with intentional arson in the Shaho Mountain forests. A lack of fire services available led to a call for civilian assistance in putting out the fire. Accusations are widespread about the intentions ranging from attacking Kurdish resistance fighters to the desire to redistribute water sources to better advantage central Iran. Local environmental groups voiced their disapproval at the intentional destruction of one of the few forests in the Middle East.

Iraq

On Sunday, August 13th, Peshmerga forces repelled an attack in Southern Kirkuk near the village of Daquk. Fighting lasted nearly an hour, and no fatalities have been reported on the Kurdish side. This is the most recent of repelled attacks since the liberation of Mosul where Islamic State fighters spread into nearby Hawija District in Kirkuk. The successful efforts of Peshmerga exemplify the war hardened experience of these soldiers.

The Kurdish majority People’s Defense Units (YPG) and Arab allies in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have taken about half of the city of Raqqa. Furthermore, they have laid siege to the city by preventing access to the Euphrates river. Reports have surfaced about the Islamic State militants forcibly drafting all young men to fend off SDF advances. Thousands of civilians remain in the city while 200 thousand internally dispalced people (IDP) have entered the cityf Tabqa frm Raqqa.

Turkey

Dozens of Kurdish civilians were detained in the village ofShapan in Hakkari and 16 remain in custody. Turkish officials closed entry and exit points in and out of the village while they conducted military operations. Allegations of torture during captivity are manifested into credibility with the release of photographs. The bare backs of men have red slashes that border on lacerations. One security official was killed in the operation.

The Co-chair of the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Dimertash wrote an open letter to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the wake of Erdogan calling the HDP co-chair a terrorist at a public appearance. In the letter, Dimertash accused of Erdogan of wrongful arrest and abuse of power. The letter was posted publicly and satirically lambasted Erdogan. Calling on Erdogan to produce evidence of alleged crimes, Dimertash seeks vindication in the HDP’s calls of the Party of Justice and Development (AKP)’s Turkey of being undemocratic.